Before the prime minister was re-elected, Bulgaria witnessed mass protests.

Graft and poverty remain rife in the country despite reforms promised by the center-right government. Public anger has also grown due to the fact that thousands of refugees are currently stranded in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria joined the European Union a decade ago. It is the most impoverished member of the 28-nation bloc. The election of Radev is seen as a blow to Bulgaria’s Western allies.

Radev, 53, entered Bulgarian politics on a wave of discontent with the ruling centre-right’s progress in combating corruption, disappointment with the European Union and concerns among voters over alienating an increasingly assertive Russia.

Coupled with political instability, Bulgaria’s tilt toward Russia is a blow to the country’s western European allies and underscores Moscow’s growing influence in southeastern Europe.

Radev has called for an end to EU sanctions against Russia and said Sofia should be pragmatic in its approach to any international law violations by Moscow when it annexed Crimea.

“In his election campaign (Donald Trump), already elected, said clearly that he will work for a better dialogue with Russia. That gives us hope, a big hope, for a peaceful solution to the conflicts both in Syria and in Ukraine and for a decrease of the confrontation,” Radev said.